Cage & Aviary Birds November 12, 2025

ZOOS & BIRDPARKS BIG NEWS FROM Oliver Crowther, who has joined Toledo Zoo's conservation team in Ohio, USA. Mr Crowther – a regular C&AB contributor and the face of the very popular OC Aviary YouTube channel – has recently started his dream job after completing his master's degree in Bioveterinary Science at the University of Nottingham (See News, August 20). “After the release of my twite conservation project documentary in September 2024, a member of Toledo Zoo's conservation team soon got in touch,” explained Mr Crowther. “We had several online meetings over the months that followed, discussing my ambitions for the future and how those might align with the zoo's conservation mission. Then, after graduating, they paid me a visit to see my aviaries. Shortly afterwards, I joined their conservation…

LEGISLATION PREVIOUSLY REJECTED TENANTS could now have a case for keeping birds! On October 27, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent. The new legislation is said by the government to transform the experience of private renting, improving the current system for both the 11 million private renters and the 2.3 million landlords in England. There are many aspect of the Act that are aimed at giving renters greater security and stability, and one is to give tenants “strengthened rights” to request a pet in the property. Landlords must now consider this and cannot unreasonably refuse. To support this, landlords will be able to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property. The gov.uk guide to the Bill says: “The Renters' Rights Bill will ensure landlords do…

COMPETITION WINNERS THE TEN WINNERS of Haith's October prize draw to win either a 1kg bag of Tip Top Budgie Seed or Condition Seed are: Philip Janes, Gloucester; Michael Coltman, Burton on Trent; Wayne Kingston, Newport; Brian Sheldrake, Kenninghall; Graham Davies, Birmingham; William Stephen, Ellon; George Jackson, Saltburn; Karen Walker, East Cowes; Colin Dymond, East Cowes; Wanda Hammond, Preston. Congratulations, your chosen prize is on the way! STRONG WINDS BLOW SEABIRDS INTO LANDLOCKED COUNTY A WILDLIFE CHARITY has rescued a fourth seabird that has been blown from the coast to a landlocked county in the space of a few weeks. Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Aylesbury, Bucks rescued a red-throated diver found in Wendover, about 70 miles from the sea. It was nursed back to health before being released on the…

CONSERVATION A NEW REPORT celebrates the return of two bird species to the UK, both proven to breed in 2023 for the first time since the 1990s. The Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP) – an independent body that monitors the populations of the UK's rarest breeding birds – collects breeding data on all species of birds with fewer than 2,000 pairs breeding in the UK. The 2023 report includes details of 104 rare or scarce native birds that bred, or showed signs of breeding, in the UK. A pair of hoopoes have succeeded in raising three young from a nest in farmland in Leicestershire. This striking species from southern Europe has bred sporadically in the UK for almost 200 years but had been absent as a breeding species since 1996,…

SEABIRDS AS AN ENGLAND-WIDE coastal conservation project draws to a close, the RSPB takes a closer look at its impact on seabirds and waders. LIFE on the Edge – a five-year project created in 2020 – has helped to conserve, restore and future-proof fragile coastal habitats. It was implemented at seven coastal special protected areas (SPAs) across England. These sites provide vital nesting habitats for many bird species. The project targeted little terns, sandwich terns, redshanks, common terns, avocets, oystercatchers, gulls and ringed plovers, amongst others. The RSPB says that such a farreaching rollout was only possible due to collaboration with the National Trust, Natural England and the Environment Agency. “It's amazing to look back across LIFE on the Edge and see how much progress has been achieved,” said RSPB…

I LOVE CHRISTMAS – it is so good to have an enjoyable holiday near the end of December. It also gives ample opportunity to support the retailers who work so hard, the whole year through, to source the interesting items that we bird breeders must have to ensure our birds enjoy the best of everything. Books about birds, with tips and information, allow us to have a greater knowledge of aviculture. Helping us learn what we need to know to ensure our birds are comfortably housed in either aviaries or roomy cages. At the Parrot Society, we have many generous members who have built up large book collections over the years and many have donated these to us. The Society offer these books to newcomers at our shows so that the…